Lawn-mower.



D. G. TREAT.

LAWN lxfovmhl APPLIOATIOI IILBD JULY 24', 1908.

Patented Dec. 22, 1908.

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DANIEL G. TREAT, OF READING, PENNSYL COMPANY, OF READING, PENNSYLVANI VANIA, ASSIGNOR TO READING HARDWARE A, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA. l

LAWN-MOWER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 22, 1908.

Application 'lled July 24, 1908. Serial No. 445,125.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL G.`TREAT, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Reading, in the county of Berks and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Im rovements in Lawn-Mowers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates particularly to lawn mowing machines having stationary and r0- tary cutters carried by side frames which are mounted on drive wheels arranged ingear with the rotary cutter; and it consists therein as particularly described in connection with t e 'accompanying drawings and speciiically pointed out in the claim.

Figure 1 is a vertical section of a lawnmower embodying my improvements.l Fig. 2 is a sectiona view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the backing-ratchet mechanism, taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a separate view of the improved pawl employed. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view showing the handle pivoted to the side frames in different position from that indicated in Fig. 1.

The general construction of the machine indicated is well known; the spaced side frames 2, 2, carrying between them the adjustably fixed cutter bar 3, the rotary-cutter or reel shaft 4, and the vertically adjustable roller 5; and the tractionwheels 6 on which said frames and attachments are mounted being provided with an interiorly toothed wheel 7 arranged in mesh with a drive inion 8 having a clutch engagement with t e rotary cutter-shaft 4 whereby rotary movement is imparted to the latter only during the normal forward movement of the machine.

In effecting the automatic engagement and disengagement of the shaft 4 with pinion S, a slide pawl 10 is advantageously employed in connection with the internally ratchettoothed portion 11 of the pinion; said pawl being loosely entered in a longitudinal slot 12 rovided therefor in the shaft 4, and being formed with similar opposite ends 13 either of which is adapted to engagethe internal ratchet-teeth 14, when it is projected into their path, in well known manner. In my improved pawl construction shown I provide for overcoming a decided imperfection'in the practical operation of such mechanism,- namely the lia ility of a ratchet-tooth 14 of `which spindle is the pinion imperfectly engaging with a pawl end 13 before the latter is fully projected, and of the partially projected pawl being pushed backward in the slot so as to release the shaft until a succeeding tooth engages it, thereby producin a jerky and jarring action of the cutter wIiich is highly objectionable. To avoid this difficulty I provide the pawl with a plurality of locking offsets, 16 and 17 as indicated, one or other of which is adapted to shoulder against the sh aft seat 18 or 19 therefor, according as the pawl is projected fully or only partially when engaged by a tooth 14; the main offset 16 serving normally to lock the fully projected pawl against retraction while the pinion is driving the shaft, and the supplemental oifset 17 serving the same urpose in exceptional cases where (as shown 1nF1g-3) the pawl end is engaged by a ratchettooth 14 before it is fully projected; so that in either case the cutter shaft will be rotated until the machine is backed.

For mounting the side frames 2 and attached parts upon the traction wheels 6, I provide each of said frames with a separately ormed axle-spindle 20 of suitable bar steel,

removably secured to the frame, preferably by a screw-thread connection 21 and locking set screw 22 as shown, and serves as a superior and easily renewed bearing for the traction wheel loosely mounted thereon.

In my improved construction each of the side frames 2 is further provided with special engaging means for a variably connected handle or tongue 25, as required respectively for level or terrace work. This handle is formed as usual with parallel forked ends 26 (only one of which is shown), each of which is provided with a pivoting aperture 27 near the extremity thereof and with a second ap-4 erture 2S longitudinally spaced therefrom; andeach side-frame is provided with a pivot pin 30 adapted to enter either of said apertures, and with stop lugs 29 located forward of said pins 30 so as to lie clear of the eX- tremity of the handle when the latter is pivoted on its terminal apertures 27 (Fig. 5), but adapted to engage the extremities of the handle ends when-the latter are pivoted on the rearwardly located apertures 28, as shown in Fig. 1; the latter connection being adapted for ordinary service and the former (Fig. 5) for working on terraces.

I do not claim in this application the improved pawl and ratchet mechanism referred to, since this forms the subject matter of a divisional application filed October 28th, 1908, Serial No. 459,863.

What I claim is In a lawn mower the combination with the loose drive wheels, and the side frames mounted thereon and carrying stationary and rotary cutters, of the frame-connected handle having parallel ends each formed with two longitudinally spaced pivoting apertures, each of said side frames being provided with a pivoting pin, and with stop lugs located forward of said pins and adapted to engage the extremities of said 4handle ends only when the latter are pivoted upon the rearwardly located apertures, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

DANIEL G. TREAT.

Witnesses:

D. M. STEWART, W., G. STEWART. 

